Sound-box coupler



Nov. 8, 1927.

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somw BOX cournmz Filed June 20, 1919 W MW, m 4,, m a

Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,64a0so PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM TUBES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR TO THE ORG-TONE CO., OF

, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SOUND-BOX COUPLER.

. Application filed June 20,

My invention relates in general to talking machines and more particularly to improved means for adjustably mounting a sound box on a tone arm.

The records made by different manufacturers differ in the number of grooved convolutions to the inch. The speed of the movement of the tone arm radially of the record consequently differs when different makes of records are played. Those machines in which the tone arm is moved radially of the record through the engagement of the needle with the groove may play different makes of records by merely providing an adjustable connection between the sound box and tone arm so as to'properly position, the sound box for hill and dale and zigzag records. A talking machine such as the Edison, however, in which the tone arm is positively moved radially of the record in synohronism with the spaced relation of the grooved convolutions can play only the particular records for that machine, i. e., records having the number of grooved convolutions 7 to the inch corresponding to the rate of movement of the tone arm.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a sound box coupling for attachment to the end of the tone arm which will permit the sound box to have a rate of radial move ment different from that at which the tone arm is oscillated, thereby enabling talking machines having positively driven tone arms to play records whose grooved convolutions per inch do not correspond with the positive movement of the tone arm.

A further object of my invention is to provide a coupling for connecting a' sound box to a tone arm of the nonvertically moving type, such as the tone arm of an Edison machine which will permit the sound box to oscillate vertically relatively to the tone arm, thereby compensating for unevenness in the record or turn-table, permitting free rise and fall of the sound box as the needle follows the groove, and enabling the sound box to be swung upwardly to a position convenient for the removal and insertion of needles.

A still further objectof my invention is to provide a coupling for uniting a sound box with a tone arm which may be readily adjusted to properly position the sound box for both zigzag and hill and dale records.

1919. Serial No. 305,613.

And a further object of my invention is to provide a sound box coupling which may be simple 1n construction, convenient in use and eflicient in operation. 7

My invention will be more fullydisclosed hereinafter with reference to the accompany mg drawing in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which:

F gure 1 shows an elevational View of the preierred form of my invention with the sound box arranged to play records with zigzag undulations.

Figure 2 is an elevational View of my invention showing the sound box turned to play a hill and dale record. T

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the longitudinal central plane through the soilnd box coupling on line 33 of Fig. 4 an Figure 4 is a vertical section on line H of Figure 3. i Generally speaking I accomplish the obects of my invention by providing atone arm coupling having a vertical hinge which compensates for uneven records and turntables of different height, and permits the rise and fall of the sound box as records are being reproduced and also permits the sound box to be turned back for the removal and insertion of needles. I provide also for horizontal movement, that is, movement about a vertical axis, which movement compensates for the difference in the number of convolutions per inch of the various kinds of records now on the market and permits them to be played on machines having a mechanical feed as the Edison, for moving the tone arm, such horizontal play allowing a swinging movement of the sound box with respect to the end of the positively moved tone arm when records other than Edison records are played. I also provide a telescopic sleeve connection whereby vertical movement of the sound box may be permitted while at the same time escape of the sound waves is prevented and admission of air and dirt to the interior of the tone arm prevented.

In the drawings, 5 is the end of a tone arm. In the form shown it has an enlarged portion 6 adapted to receive the sleeve 7 of my sound box connector, the sleeve 7 being provided with a pin 8 for cooperation with the usual bayonet joint slot in the end of the tone arm 5. The sleeve 7 terminates in an enlarged collar 9 whereinis formed an annular recess containing a gasket 10 of rubber orsimilarly resilient material.- The gasket may be secured in place by adhesion or in any manner desirable. The top portion of the enlargement 9 is provided with a pair of ears 11 between-which is pivoted a portion of a vertical hinge, this portion comprising'the lug 12. .The lug 12 extendsupwardly from a horizontally disposed intermediatecmember 13 which member has a shoulder 14; to abut the end of the sleeve 7 and. an'inwardly extending .collar'15 adapted to extend withinthe gasket 10, the length of the collar 15 being suflicient so that at all times it may extend within the gasket irrespective of the amount of vertical play in the sound box while operative ,in the reproduction otrecords; The member 13 has an air chamber 18" communicating with one end of a chamber 16 in a member 16 having a vertical portion and an obliquely disposed portion 17, the same forming an angular bend for the travel of thesound waves from thesound box to the tone arm The member 16 is mounted on the member 13 to rotate thereon to permit swinging of the sound box about a Vertical axis. The member 16;is held in engagement with the member 13 by means of a threaded pin 18 arranged as shown and'which pin'is secured in position by means ofa' set screw 19 inserted ina proper portion ofthe'member 13. The downwardly directed member 17 has an enlarged end-20 (for the reception of the tone arm connector on therear-portion 21 of the sound box, the member 20 being provided with a slot 22 to receive a pin 21 on the member 21 of the sound box as in the usual construction. However, I may secure the sound box to the member 22 by any suitable means. The length of: the slot 22 is such as to permit the sound box to be moved from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2 or vice versa and to permit no furtherangular movement of the sound box with respect to the end 20. In practice this movement is substantially 90 degrees so that the plane of the diaphragm may be positioned to reproduce either hill and dale, or

-zi zag records.

- eferring to Figure 3, itwill be observed thatas the connector of my invention is 'moved about thevhorizontal hinge, that is the :one between thelugs'12, the collar 15 i will move relatively to the gasket 10. However, by reason of the provision of the gasket lO escape oftthe soundwaves from the tone'armchannel. is prevented and also the admission of dirt or air' currents into the tone arm -1s-.prevented. When 1t is-des red to replace aneedle". the whole devi cev unay .be swung upwardly about the hinge 11 bringfollows The member 7 oi -the coupling is connected to the end of the tone arm 5 in the "manner above described, and the sound box swung to theposition shown in Figure 1 when a zigzag record is played, or to the position shown inl igure 2 for a hill and dale record. Assuming thatthe record being played has a number of grooved convolutions to the inch different from the record for which the tone arm 5 is positively moved, the sound box will move radially oi the record at a rate differing/tromthe movement of the end of the tone arm, such difierential movement being permitted by the swinging of the sound box horizontally with respect to the end of the tone arm owing to the oscillation permitted between the members l3 and 16 of the coupling about their vertical axis. Assuming that the tone arm 5 is of the type movable horizontally, but not vertically, the sound box oscillates about the horizontal axis of the members 7 and 13, thereby compensating for unevenness in the record or in the turn-table which supports the record, and to permit the free rise and fall of the sound box as the needle thereof ifollows the groove of the record. The hinge 11 also permits the sound box to be swung upwardly into a convenient position for removing a worn needle and substituting therefor a new one.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented a coupling for uniting a sound. box to a tone arm by means of which a talking machine having a positively moved tone .ar1n may play records having grooved convolutions of different numbers to the inch from those of the lrecord for which the talking machine'is in- .tended to be used.

It will be further observed that my invention permits a sound box to-be so mounted upon the end of a tone arm incapable of (moving vertically as'to permit the sound box to have a vertical .movement relatively toithe end of the tone arm. Itwill be further evident that my invention permitswthe playing of either hill and dale or zigzag records bymerely swinging the sound box about the, vertical .axis of its coupling so as to properly position the diaphragm for the character of record to be played.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wishto-be understoodas limit-ing myself thereto as I contemplate :changes .in form and proportion of parts and the substitution of means ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit of my 1nvent1on.

I claim: 1. A coupler adapted to operativelyconnect a sound box and a tone arm constrained as to both horizontal and vertical movement,

said coupler comprising a member adapted to be rigidly connected to the tone arm, a second member attached to said first member by means of a horizontal pivot, and a third member connected to said second member by means of a vertical pivot, said third memher being formed with a connection serving to engage a sound box in such manner that the sound box may be rotated about the axis of the member.

2. A. coupler adapted to operatively connect a sound box and a tone arm constrained as to both horizontal and vertical movement, said coupler comprising a member adapted to be rigidly connected to the tone arm, a second member attached to said first member by means of a horizontal pivot located above the tone arm whereby the member may be swung above the tone arm, and a third member connected to said second member by means of a vertical pivot, said third member being formed with a connection serving to engage a sound box in such manner that the sound box may be rotated about the axis of the member.

3. In a talking machine, in combination with a sound box and a tone arm, of a coupler, said coupler comprising a member secured to and in alignment with the tone arm, a second member pivotally connected with the first member to swing about a horizontal axis, a tubular projection on one of said members in telescopic engagement with the other member, a gasket interposed between said members, and a third member in engagement with said sound box, said sound box and third member having interengageable means whereby the sound box may be turned through an angle for reproducing either zigzag or hill-and-dale records.

t. A sound box coupling including a plurality of members one of which members is adapted for connection with the tone arm, another adapted for connection with the sound box, and a third connecting said first and second members, pivoted connections permitting relative swinging movement between said members whereby the sound box may be swung both vertically and horizontally, and a pivoted connection whereby said sound box may be turned within its member through-an angle.

5. A coupling for connecting sound boxes to tone arms, including a member adapted for engagement with the tone arm, a second member connected to said tone arm member by means of a horizontal pivot adapted to permit swinging movement of said member, a third member adapted for cooperation with the sound box and connected thereto in such manner as to permit turning the sound box through an angle of substantially 90- degrees, said third member being connected to said swinging member, and means permitting relative horizontal rotation between said swinging member and said sound box member.

6. In a talking machine, in combination with a sound box and a tone arm, of a coupler, said coupler comprising a member secured to and in alignment with the tone arm, a second member pivotally connected with the first member to swing about a horizontal axis, a tubular projection on one of said members in telescopic engagement with the other member, a gasket interposed between said members, and a third member in engagement with said sound box, said third member being rotatable relative to said second member about a vertical axis, and said sound box and its connector having interengageable means whereby the sound box may be turned through an angle for reproducing either zig-zag or hill-and-dale records.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th day of June 1919.

WILLIAM TUBES. 

